PRINCES TUNA (MAURITIUS) LIMITED

What PRINCES TUNA (MAURITIUS) LIMITED does

Princes Tuna (Mauritius) Limited (PTM) is a Mauritian-headquartered tuna processing and canning manufacturer operating two production sites — Riche Terre and Marine Road in Port Louis — with combined daily raw tuna processing capacity of 430 tonnes and annual capacity of 103,000 tonnes. The company produces finished tuna products across five core formats: canned tuna (Steak, Chunks, Sandwich, Flakes in brine, springwater, and oil), pouches (65G to 7KG), glass jars, frozen precooked loins (CRYOVAC bags at 5.9KG and 7.52KG), and premium ventresca belly products. PTM also sells an innovation line of infused tuna fillets (chili-infused oil and olive oil) launched in 2020. The company processes four tuna species — Skipjack, Yellowfin, Albacore, and Big Eye — sourced primarily from the Indian Ocean.

PTM operates a B2B sales-led go-to-market model serving four customer segments: major UK and European retailers (under the Princes own brand and customer private labels), food service wholesalers distributing to restaurants, hotels, school canteens, hospitals, and airlines, industrial food manufacturers in Southern Europe and the US (frozen precooked loins as an ingredient for pizzas, sandwiches, salads), and gourmet/specialty retailers (premium jars and ventresca). Revenue is generated through one-time B2B contract and wholesale sales of manufactured finished tuna products. Export markets span the US, UK, and EU, with the company accounting for approximately 1% of Mauritian GDP.

The company is a joint venture established in 1999 when UK-based Princes Group acquired the original Mauritius Tuna Fishing and Canning Enterprises (MTFCE, founded 1972), with long-term partners Ireland Blyth Limited (IBL) and the Mauritian State Investment Corporation (SIC). In 2015, PTM merged with Thon des Mascareignes, adding the Marine Road site and bringing IBL subsidiary Seafood Hub Ltd into the shareholding. The technology platform includes multi-stage vacuum cooking processes, in-house thermal process validation by a dedicated Process Authority, an 11-stage chemical-free effluent treatment system, and a LABCRED-accredited laboratory. PTM holds the distinction of being the first global canned tuna supplier to receive SA 8000 certification (2003) and remains the longest continuously certified company worldwide, alongside BRCGS, IFS Food, MSC, Kosher, and Halal certifications. The company is a founding member of SIOTI and ISSF, and active in Global Tuna Alliance and Earth Island Institute dolphin-safe programs.

Name

PRINCES TUNA (MAURITIUS) LIMITED

Legal name

Princes Tuna (Mauritius) Limited

Website

https://princes-tuna-mauritius.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Princes Tuna (Mauritius) Limited operates two tuna processing and canning facilities in Port Louis, Mauritius, producing canned, pouched, jarred, frozen loin, and ventresca tuna products for major UK and European retailers, food service wholesalers, and industrial food manufacturers in the US and Southern Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Canned Tuna Manufacturing

NAICS

Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (31171), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (311710)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)

akta.pro primary industry

Canned & Shelf-Stable Seafood (Tuna, Sardines, Salmon, Retort Pouches) (AFANALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Shelf-Stable/Retort Prepared Meat & Seafood Meals (AFANAFAE), Marinated & Seasoned Seafood (Value-Added Raw/Par-Cooked) (AFANALAE)

Keywords

• Tuna processing
• Canned tuna manufacturing
• Seafood production
• Private label tuna
• Sustainable tuna sourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Louis

HQ country

Mauritius

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuna Product Manufacturing and Sales: PTM operates as a tuna processing and manufacturing business selling finished tuna products (cans, pouches, jars, loins, ventresca) to retail, food service, and industrial customers. Revenue is generated through the sale of manufactured tuna products under own brand (Princes) and private label/customer own brands.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

PTM processes and manufactures a portfolio of tuna products — canned tuna, tuna pouches, tuna jars, frozen precooked loins, and premium ventresca — at two production sites in Mauritius (Marine Road and Riche Terre). Finished products are sold under the Princes own brand and under customer private labels to major UK and European retailers, food service wholesalers, and industrial food manufacturers in Southern Europe and the US.

Product overview

PRINCES TUNA (MAURITIUS) LIMITED is a tuna processing company operating two production sites (Marine Road and Riche Terre) in Mauritius. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of tuna products across multiple packaging formats: Tuna Cans (retail and food service), Tuna Pouches (retail, food service, and industrial), Tuna Jars (glass, niche retail), Frozen Tuna Loins (industrial), and Tuna Ventresca (niche premium). The product portfolio also includes innovation offerings such as Infused Tuna Fillets. All products are derived from four main tuna species (Skipjack, Yellowfin, Albacore, Big Eye) sourced primarily from the Indian Ocean, processed with state-of-the-art technology, and certified under BRCGS, IFS Food, MSC, SA 8000, Kosher, and Halal standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Princes: Own brand for tuna products sold to retailers in UK and Europe.

Products and services

• Tuna Cans Canned tuna products sold to retail (major UK and European retailers under Princes brand and customer own brands) and food service (wholesalers distributing to restaurants, hotels, school canteens, hospitals, airlines). Available in formats including Steak, Chunks, Sandwich, and Flakes in Brine, Springwater, and Oil variants.
• Tuna Pouches Pouched tuna products sold to retail, food service, and industrial customers for use in pizzas, sandwiches, and salads. Available in Chunks in Brine, Sunflower Oil, and Olive Oil variants in various sizes from 65G to 7KG.
• Tuna Jars Glass jar tuna products sold to retailers and gourmet shops. Contains tuna fillets in olive oil, available in sizes ranging from 212ML to 450ML.
• Tuna Loins (Frozen) Frozen precooked tuna loins sold to industrial customers in Southern Europe and the US. Available in CRYOVAC bags at 7.52KG and 5.9KG per bag, with single or double clean options.
• Tuna Ventresca Niche tuna belly (ventresca) product sold to retailers and gourmet shops. Available in fillets in sunflower oil or olive oil, in 110G-115G cans.
• Infused Tuna Fillets Innovation product line of tuna fillets infused with chili oil or olive oil, developed to target consumers seeking differentiated and flavorful tuna products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million cans produced per day at Riche Terre site
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Echebastar Fleet S.L.U.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Family-owned company based in Basque Country, Spain operating 6 purse seine vessels exclusively in the Indian Ocean. MSC certified for skipjack tuna in 2018. Represents flagship supply partnership ensuring highest environmental standards in tuna sourcing.
• Seafood Hub LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Subsidiary of IBL, became part of PTM shareholding after 2015 merger with Thon des Mascareignes
• Ireland Blyth Limited (IBL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Joint venture partner and one of the largest private companies in Mauritius. IBL is a long-term strategic partner in the Princes Tuna Mauritius joint venture and holds shareholding through its subsidiary Seafood Hub Ltd.
• Mauritian State Investment Corporation (SIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Joint venture partner and investment arm of the Government of Mauritius. Long-term strategic partner in the Princes Tuna Mauritius joint venture.
• Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal certification program for sustainable seafood. PTM sources some fish from MSC certified fisheries. Partnership helps raise awareness of sustainable sourcing requirements.
• International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of ISSF. Actively supports organization's work on science-based tuna sustainability. In 2019, 100% of large purse seine vessels PTM purchased tuna from were registered on ISSF ProActive Vessel Register (PVR).
• Sustainable Indian Ocean Tuna Initiative (SIOTI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder member and funder of SIOTI (Indian Ocean Fishery Improvement Project). Alliance-driven initiative to help Indian Ocean purse seine fishery meet MSC sustainability standard. Covers catches of skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye from approximately 28 vessels. SIOTI meets WWF criteria for 'credible FIPs'.
• Earth Island Institute (EII)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational monitoring program for dolphin-safe tuna. Ensures catch methods used by tuna suppliers are legitimate, responsible and dolphin friendly. PTM adheres to Earth Island Institute standards for Dolphin Safe tuna.
• Global Tuna Alliance (GTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPTM as GTA member fully supports calls for IOTC to deliver 25% reduction in yellowfin catches. Partnership in industry-wide sustainability advocacy.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Frinsa: Spanish-based Frinsa is one of Europe's largest tuna processors, producing canned and pouched tuna for retail private label and food service. Its European-customer focus, B2B private-label model, and multi-format capabilities make it a direct operational comparable to PTM.
• Jealsa: Jealsa is a major Spanish tuna processor producing canned tuna (Calvo brand) and frozen loins for European and global customers. Its brand-retail-plus-industrial business model and Atlantic/Indian Ocean sourcing overlap make it a direct functional peer to PTM.
• Iberconsa: Iberconsa is a Spanish seafood processor with significant tuna and cephalopod operations, serving European retail and industrial customers. Its B2B private-label model and European distribution footprint make it a relevant peer in PTM's industrial/frozen loin channel.
• Centurion (Centurion Group): Centurion is one of the world's largest at-sea and shore-based tuna processors, operating vessels and processing facilities primarily in the Indian Ocean. Its Indian Ocean processing focus makes it the closest geographic and operational peer to PTM.
• Bolton Food (Tri Marine): Bolton Food operates Tri Marine and Italian tuna brands (Rio Mare, Cuca) and is a vertically-integrated tuna processor with European retail and industrial distribution. It is one of the closest direct comparables to PTM in terms of multi-format product portfolio and private-label supply to European retailers.

Broad incumbents

• Starkist: StarKist is a major US-based canned tuna brand (owned by Dongwon Enterprises) with significant private-label operations. It competes with PTM in US/EU retail channels and is a broad incumbent comparable for canned tuna category dynamics.
• Thai Union Group: Thai Union is the world's largest canned tuna producer (Chicken of the Sea, Bumble Bee) with multi-billion revenue and global processing footprint. It is the dominant incumbent PTM competes with for shelf space in UK/US/EU retailers and sets the benchmark for scale, certifications, and supply chain integration.
• Bumble Bee Foods: Bumble Bee is a major US canned tuna brand (now part of Thai Union). Its brand-led US retail presence and private-label supply make it a relevant broad incumbent for the canned tuna retail category where PTM also competes.

Emerging players

• Wild Planet Foods: Wild Planet is a premium sustainable canned tuna brand with strong retail presence in natural and specialty channels. It overlaps with PTM's gourmet/specialty retail channel (ventresca, jars) and represents the premium consumer trend PTM can capture.

Regional players

• Saupiquet (Thai Union subsidiary): Saupiquet is a French canned tuna brand (Thai Union subsidiary) with strong French/European retail presence. It directly competes with PTM in the European retail channel but is geographically anchored in France rather than Indian Ocean production.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/princes-tuna-mauritius-limited

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PRINCES TUNA (MAURITIUS) LIMITED